When people ask me about upper grades math in our homeschool I tell them it is the EASIEST subject - by far!

( I bet you wouldn't have expected that answer. )

I made a very common mistake with our first child. I sacrificed part of her math education on the altar of "what everyone else was doing" and the "Gold Standard math curriculum".

I'm going to come right out and say it -- we love Saxon math -- TO A POINT.

Once my child hit middle school some things started to change.

Does any of this sound familiar?

tears during math
taking HOURS to complete a math lesson
too much cyclical review that it bores the child to death
weakness with word problems
parent and child butting heads (in a big way) during math time

I've been there -- but read on and I think I can help if you are there, too!

Teaching Math in the Middle and High School Homeschool Years

I have NOT been compensated to write this post. This post contains affiliate links.

Math in the Elementary Years

Math instruction in the elementary years was fairly straightforward. We used Saxon Math (with a sprinkling of Life of Fred added in for fun) and I loved the mastery and proficiency it produced in my children.

The Classical approach to math education - emphasis on the grammar of math coupled with a lot of drill and repetition - worked very well during this time.

I would say that any math program in the elementary years that focuses on drill and repetition, cyclical review, and consistency is a good choice. Math is one of those things that is consistently building on itself.

The math foundation you lay in the elementary years is crucial for success in the middle and high school years.

Oh -- and don't forget fun math games! We played loads of them and I think that fostered the love of numbers in my youngest child especially.

Math in the Middle and High School Years

Things started going off the rails in the 6th grade for my oldest. Something about Saxon 7/6 just wasn't working.

The lessons were LONG. (She could only get through the even or odd numbered problems in the 1.5 hours math was taking each day.) The concepts seemed to be spiraling a lot. She wasn't performing well on word problems when I would test her. She detested math. We were fighting during math time.

It wasn't good. But I kept insisting that we continue because Saxon was the best. Everyone else was using it. Our homeschool group recommended it. What would it look like if we didn't continue?

What a disservice I did my child. I wish I could do it over again, but I can't. (I've grown a lot since then.)

We continued through Saxon 8/7 the following year and it was more of the same. I purchased the Saxon Teacher DVDs in hopes they would help, and they did help - but not in the way you might be thinking. They simply removed ME from the equation, which just stopped the fighting during math time.

I had a sneaking suspicion her math skills weren't quite up to par, but honestly I was tired from the struggle and that was that.

Dennis suggested an Algebra Readiness class for Anna over the summer.

Below you will find more details about Mr. D's math classes, but I would say the biggest thing he did in that short summer session with her was restore her confidence and a sense that math can be fun!

This picture says it all!

Since that time, Anna has taken Algebra I , Geometry , an SAT prep course, and this summer she is taking his 11 week Algebra II course .

We ran into Mr. D again at a homeschool convention in Georgia and Anna went to several of his workshops. It's so obvious he loves what he does and he loves KIDS. On our most recent trip to Florida we made a point to get together with Mr. D.

Here we are with the teacher who saved my homeschool math life!

Middle and High School Homeschool Math with Mr. D Math

Why Mr. D and What Do The Classes Look Like?

What I have discovered is this: Saxon math got to be TOO MUCH once we approached high school. The intensity of the lessons, the cyclical approach, and just the structure of the lessons no longer worked for my child. I have heard this is quite common.

This is why we switched to Mr. D. Math.

I am strongly considering switching my son into Mr. D after he completes Saxon 8/7.

More details about Mr. D classes:

Math from an Expert - Mr. D is a math educator and former public school teacher. He works with school systems to assist them in bringing up their SAT scores and also runs his online math academy. He has an acute sense of the math skills our older children need to be successful as they take the SAT and ACT. To say he is enthusiastic about what he does is an understatement.

Live Lessons Option - this meets once a week for an hour. The student interact with Mr. D and he keeps a great pulse on each student's progress. In addition to this, recorded videos for the course (a recorded video for each section of coursework) is available to watch.

Recorded Videos Option (Self-Paced) - You can certainly take Mr. D math without the live session, in which case you simply purchase the course, which includes one year of access to the recorded videos for each section of coursework. These videos are thorough, simple, and put math into language your child can understand. Work through a year of math at your own pace. Wonderful.

100% Online - This is great for us when we are on the road. All of the coursework is in the portal (Anna prints it each week). Everything you need is easily accessible through the student login.

Student Graded Coursework - Yes, your read that right. Student-Graded. Mr. D's entire philosophy is one of understanding and MASTERY. Anna completes her coursework each week, then grades her work (answers easily available in the portal). She fixes any wrong answers. She reviews any of the videos that will be helpful. She grades again and this is the grade we record. Her self-esteem isn't beaten down by a bad math grade. Remember, the goal is MASTERY.

Online Gradebook - She enters all of her grades into the online gradebook. At the end of the year I have her grade for the course. This year, in Geometry I haven't done a thing to help her. She is consistently making A's on coursework and tests -- FIRST ATTEMPT!

Parent in Control - This is something I insist upon. The final authority is ME, not Mr. D. I am the one who transcripts the grades for her.

Honors Level - All of Mr. D's classes are honors level. He sent me very good verbiage for course descriptions.

Help Sessions - Mr. D offers weekly help sessions if your child is having trouble with anything! He is also extremely responsive to emails.

(I'm also super excited that Mr. D is offering a Life Skills for Teens Course this fall!)

Math is such an important part of our homeschools. I didn't make the decision to switch math curricula lightly.

I did my research, prayed A LOT, and in the end was led to a math solution that has worked very well for my child. The more I hear from friends and readers who use Mr. D, the more I hear rave reviews.

It's definitely worth looking into if you feel like your child needs a change or if you want a solution for middle and high school math.

Teaching Math in the Middle and High School Home School

Talk to me about math in your homeschool.

What math program do you use?

Isn't math the eternal struggle for some of us?

If you don't have a "math kid", it can be extremely difficult to find an upper grades curriculum that "works".

For the past two years I feel like we've been limping along in math. I take full responsibility for this - I am the teacher.

The buck stops here.

You see, I've been missing the most important thing .

I got too caught up in Saxon being the gold standard (after all - it is what Classical Conversation recommends for the Challenge program), and forgot to look at MY CHILD and HER NEEDS.

Thank GOD I was led -- by some miracle, really -- to attend a math workshop at FPEA earlier this year with Mr. D. I'm so happy for that hour I spent in his workshop, and for the chain of events that occurred after that day.

The Background Story

I share this with because maybe you can relate.

I have a feeling many of you have struggled with upper grades math or are even struggling now.

Anna (my 9th grader) began homeschooling when she was in the third grade. She has never liked math.

We started with Horizons, and after three years decided to switch to Saxon in sixth grade. Perhaps if she had been doing Saxon from the start it would have worked for her, but Saxon was just too MUCH. It wasn't engaging. It was time consuming.

Add to this the fact that I am not a math person, and it was just a recipe for disaster. I knew we should probably make a change, but I was so frightened to try something different.

I thought Saxon was the only path. Silly, I know.

The math problem kept coming to the front of my mind, and as I went to FPEA in May I decided I MIGHT try to investigate something different for Anna.

Enter Mr. D.

Truthfully, I wanted to go to his workshop because he was talking about strategies to help with the SAT. As I sat in his workshop I was getting excited about math (which is a big deal for me!), and becoming even more excited about the prospect of what kind of high school curriculum Mr. D offered.

Mr. D was artful at capturing everyone's attention, and was encouraging all of us to PLAY WITH NUMBERS... something I know (from a CC Practicum a few years ago) is so valuable for all ages.

I spoke briefly with Mr. D after the workshop and made myself a note to investigate further when I got back home to Georgia.

Summer Math - Algebra Readiness

After I had been home a few weeks, I reached out to Mr. D.

Guess what? He's a homeschooling dad!

After asking some questions about the specifics of his math program, I decided to enroll Anna in a 6 week Algebra Readiness class that is meeting this summer.

Anna logs onto Mr. D. Math every Wednesday afternoon for an hour of basic Algebra instruction... basically making sure she is ready for Algebra I in 9th grade.

Mr. D is humorous, engaging, and genuinely interested in each student. He brings the PERSONAL element to math I have been looking for.

Anna is learning math from someone who LOVES math. Math is no longer drudgery. It might even be somewhat enjoyable for her (grin).

After her hour long class, she receives an email with homework problems from Mr. D. She is given a document with the problems, and another document with the answers. Along with that are a recording of the class, a specially recorded video about the particular concepts covered that day, and any math rules they have gone over.

And guess what? I'm doing Algebra this summer, too!

Mr. D Math is helping ME reclaim MY math education!

And another awesome thing: Anna now enjoys math. When I asked her to rate Saxon on a scale from 1-10 she replied "2". When I asked her the same question about Mr. D math she replied "8".

I could cry with relief. We may have found a math solution for high school.

Anna is already registered for the Algebra I Math Co-Op with Mr. D this year.

When I spoke with her Challenge I tutor about this math change, she happily told me, "I bet Anna will be able to contribute a lot to our math conversations this year!". (This is yet another reason I love the Challenge program.)

Benefits of Mr. D Math

I encourage you to check Mr. D Math out for yourself. It is very well organized and thorough. Mr. D is also great about answering questions via email.

Some of the benefits that I have seen in just a few weeks:

We have NO technical issues with Mr. D's online environment - logging on is easy and he is obviously very tech-savvy.
Mr. D is a degreed math teacher with a LOVE of math and children - I really sense it is his passion to helps kids succeed in math
He's a homeschooling dad. He GETS IT.
NO textbooks to lug around or be bored with - everything is online. I feel like this is a great experience for what my daughter will deal with in the future.
Lots of math vocabulary - as a Classically homeschooling mom, the GRAMMAR of math is important to me. Mr. D uses that grammar often, and I have a sneaking suspicion he's a Classical homeschooling dad, too.
My daughter LIKES it -- and anyone who is homeschooling an almost 14 year old gets the importance of THAT. Yes, I know she can't LIKE everything, but this area is just too important to suffer through, don't you agree?

Getting in the Math Trenches

I promised Anna I would get in the math trenches with her this year.

WE are going to be reclaiming our math education at the same time. I'm excited about that.

Today, we completed 40 problems using rules for the order of operations and adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers.

We had a VERY long problem for the last one -- a type of problem Mr. D practiced a lot with the kids in class this week. I KNEW Anna could get it right.

She asked her dad to sit down with the white board and do the same problem she had -- a math race, if you will.

Guess who won?

This picture speaks volumes.

First, my girl has a large math problem on her white board and she is happily consenting to a picture and SMILING.

This picture gives me faith that math won't be drudgery this year.

It gives me faith that Anna will come to ENJOY math and faith that I will ENJOY math, too.

And, it gives me faith to continue on the path of doing what is right for my child... not to follow a curriculum just because everyone else is doing it, or because it's "the best".

I'm sure you will hear a lot more about Mr. D math this year. I will be sure to keep you updated.

And - for those of you who are wondering, my 5th grader, Grant, will continue with Saxon right now. It WORKS for him and he LIKES it.

Funny how that works, isn't it?